8. Chapter 8

Chapter 8

ISABEL

I lowered my scalpel to the small, lifeless animal in my biology class, just barely allowing the blade to touch, and then pulled my hand up again, breathing out a huff of frustration that sounded a lot like my sister's.

"It's a freaking kitten, Annie. How am I supposed to cut into a kitten ?" I stressed, pulling my eyebrows together in despair.

Annie stared back at me. "The same way you cut the frog last semester."

"That was different. That was a frog." I gestured to the tray in front of us. " This is a kitten. It could have been someone's pet."

Annie rolled her eyes. "They don't just go raiding healthy litters of kittens, Izzy."

"I know, but still."

"Oh, for Christ's sake. We're going to run out of time. Do you want me to do it?"

"Please?" I quickly passed her the scalpel.

"Fine." Annie took the blade to cut quickly along the underside of our assigned lab specimen. "You so could have done that," she scolded when she was done, and I grinned.

"But you did it so well."

Annie shook her head with a smirk as we got to work, diligently pinning and marking the parts of our dissection for the rest of the period. Once we got clearance from the teacher that ours was good, Annie went to set our assignment on the counter as I put our supplies away, and we met up at the sink to wash our hands.

"So, are you sure you remember what you're supposed to do?" Annie asked, keeping her voice low. "It won't work if you don't play it off right."

Holding back an eye roll, I finished rinsing my hands and grabbed a paper towel as Mr. Ybarra gave the ten-minute warning for the class to finish up. "I've got it under control, sis. The plan is flawless. Jet will be so surprised."

"Okay. Okay. You're right. I just don't want anything to tip him off. Especially that Ruby chick."

"Stef said he told her it was a surprise. It should be fine. And Nic's in the dark still. Is that why you don't want to let him in on it? Are you worried he'll tell Jet?" I asked as we stepped aside to let others get to the sink.

"No," Annie snapped. "It's just not any of his business."

"Okay. Sorry." I held up my hands, and Annie huffed.

"I'm sorry. I just… This has nothing to do with him. I'm going to go get my stuff together."

I frowned as she took off for her desk. It had been a few weeks now since Nic had come back with Jet's family from Greece, and things between him and Annie had only gotten worse. I just wished I knew why. Nic was great with most everyone else. He'd even let me teach him a few country dances that first night at Breaker Hall. But when it came to him and Annie…

She'd told me about Jet's promise to his grandma, so I knew she didn't want to fight with Nic, but it was like she couldn't turn it off with him. Not that he did with her, either. They were both at fault.

I'll have to ask him about it soon. I made the promise to myself as I went to gather my things before the bell. For today, there were more important things to worry about.

JET

I scrolled through my phone, my classmates passing by me under the large oak tree as I waited for Izzy after school. Annie had a student council meeting today, so it was just us while Tucker was at practice.

"Hey."

I looked up, finding her waiting with a faint smile, but it was hard not to notice that it didn't reach her eyes. Like a shield had been dropped since she'd lost Zoey and then the night that Bridgette went too far. Everything she was really feeling was hidden in there behind an opaque surface, tucked away from the world. I missed my friend, and I honestly didn't know if we'd ever really get her back.

"You ready to head out?" I asked.

"Yeah. I've got about an hour, and then I've got to go. Feel like working on homework?" I made a face, and Izzy laughed. "I know, but at least we'd get some of it done together . "

"You drive a hard bargain," I deadpanned, even though I grinned.

We rode home singing to songs from a rock station Izzy had blaring on my radio, and I was happy for the small glimpse of my old friend again. I hated turning the car off when we reached my house.

"Here or at your place?" I asked, throwing open my door.

"Here," she decided, pulling her bag and purse from the car. "Nic's been here by himself all day. I'm sure he'd like the company."

I smiled before following her up the walk, glad that at least one of my friends had hit it off with my cousin. Tucker was trying, but they hadn't really clicked yet, and hell if I even knew if there was a chance for Nic to ever get along with Annie.

It wasn't too bad with my family. Mom pestered him a lot about likes and dislikes and had tried making several of his favorite meals, and when Dad learned Nic was clueless about cars, he'd been pulling him into the garage a few nights a week, just like he had with Colton and I all our lives.

Harper was mostly holed up in her room, stuck to her phone with her friends, but Colton was ecstatic to find out that Nic played soccer and just about laughed himself into tears when he heard our cousin call it football. He made me promise to show Nic what American football was before he left.

"Hey, Nic," Izzy said when we stepped inside.

"Hi, Izzy." He smiled, looking up from a book. "Jet," he acknowledged .

"Hey." I held up a hand, already heading to the kitchen, my stomach growling. I grabbed a bag of leftover croissants from the counter, stuffing a couple in my mouth.

"How's your book?" Izzy took a seat on the sofa.

"Bloody brilliant. The main character gets stalked. It's really interesting because you're able to read both characters' perspectives."

"As in the stalker and the stalkee?" Disgust mixed with horror crossed Izzy's face. "Who'd want to be in a stalker's head?"

"It's fascinating, actually, getting to see how everything is twisted in their perception. I'm almost at the climax of the story now. I'm thinking someone might die here at the end."

"Wow. I'm more of a romance reader, but it sounds like something Annie would like."

"Hmmm…"

The inclination in my cousin's response was hard to miss, and I frowned before taking a swig from the milk carton to help swallow my mouthful of rolls. Stuffing it back in the fridge, I headed back to the living room. "You ready to start on homework, Izzy?"

She glanced up. "Oh, yeah. Sorry, Nic. Homework." She made a pretend face at the idea as she got up. I just wished I could make that face in pretend. The only thing making college exciting for me next year was football.

We set up at the table and got to work, and when I got too stuck on a few problems, Izzy held out her hand, quickly finding where I'd gone wrong.

"Thanks. You're a lifesaver," I said as she passed it back.

"No problem." She glanced at her Fitbit. "Crap. I can't believe what time it is. I'm going to be late. "

I frowned. "For what? Aren't you only doing dance a few days a week for now? Until your ankle is stronger?"

"Ugh, don't remind me. I've regressed so much. I'm so behind. But no, it's for work. The daycare's shorthanded this week since Tammy's on vacation, and Leo's sister texted while we were on the way home to ask me to come in today. And since they gave me off last week, it just seems fair…" She quickly gathered her things.

My stomach dropped. "Izzy…"

"Yeah?" She looked up.

There it was, that small hint at the brightness that used to fill my friend's eyes. It was good to see but not when I knew how vacant they would look in only a matter of hours if she went in. "You had to tell them yes?"

"Of course. They need me."

I wondered who she meant. Her coworkers or the babies. "Do they really?"

"Yes." Her look hardened as she picked up on what I meant.

"Do Tucker and Annie know you're going in today?"

"Yes." Her tone was even harsher than before, just enough for me not to believe her.

"Izzy…"

"Whatever, Jet. Whether you like it or not, I've got to go," she snapped, grabbing her things and storming out the door.

I shoved my homework back into my bag then, done with the fucking subject, but then decided against it. I had my scholarship to think about, and my grades had to stay up. I'd only managed to fight my way through one of the questions when there was a knock at the door.

"Nic, can you get that? "

There was another knock, and I looked over, surprised to see he wasn't there. Rushing over, I pulled open the door. "Izzy?" She was dressed in her pink scrubs and barely used sneakers, her hands behind her back to play with her hair.

"Hey, Jet. I hate to ask. I know I was kind of rude before, but I really need to go, and Annie's still not back from her meeting yet, so I don't have the truck…"

"You want to borrow my car." I surmised.

"Please? I'll be careful. I promise."

"You better be." I smiled with a look that was both joking and serious, holding a true warning for her if she let anything happen to my car as I passed her my keys.

She held them to her chest. "Thank you," she stressed.

"I really wish you wouldn't go in." I tried one more time, catching her gaze before she turned away.

A touch of anger flashed through her eyes, and she glared. "Shut up, Jet. It's none of your business. I'm fine," she spat before jogging down the walk to my Mustang.

"No, you're not," I muttered, shutting the door.

"What's that about?" Nic asked, coming back in to take his seat on the couch.

"Nothing. Izzy just needed to use my car to get to work."

Nic rolled his eyes. "No, I mean why is she upset, and why don't you want her to go to work?"

Ugh. I should've known he might overhear. I paused to think of a good way to answer. "Izzy hates it when people interfere when she thinks she's right."

"And it's not right for her to want to go to work?"

"It's not good for her to work where she does ," I corrected .

"Why? I've seen her with her brother and the other kids. She seems good with children."

"She is."

Nic's brow furrowed. "I don't understand."

I sighed and went to stretch out at the other end of the couch, wishing I'd just dropped Izzy off so I could head down to the beach to surf. "It's just not my place to tell you, man." I grabbed the remote, flipping through channels, while Nic studied me for a minute, eventually seeming to let it go.

ISABEL

How dare he. Annie and Tucker I was used to, even Jenna and Helen at times, advocating in place of Mom since she wasn't here, I was sure, but now Jet was giving me a hard time? Jet , the guy who was usually so laid back, my friend who was usually so good about reading a situation and letting me do things my way.

And to top it off, I really was running late. So, of course, my sister was going to be annoyed when I finally got there. I fought back the urge to cry, gripping my hands tighter along the wheel as I hurried across town. It was like I was losing my last ally. The one person who hadn't been giving me shit for my choices. Did no one understand?

Freaking Jet. I was just trying to help out your girlfriend!

I swiped away a tear, forcing the rest back before Annie could see. Because that was just going to open a whole new can of worms. I couldn't ever let them see. They needed me to be okay, and this was the closest way I knew how. To shove it all back. Because if I let it out… Well, the last time I'd let it out, we'd nearly lost Mom.

I pulled off to the side of the road for a minute, my chest growing painfully tight. I hadn't even seen her that night before the EMS arrived. It was Annie that had been the one to find her. I'd still been in Tucker's truck, staring at a gorgeous diamond ring with my mouth gaping open when terror pulled at my chest. When Annie answered, I'd already started shaking, her fear and panic trailing over into me as she gasped for 911. Tucker took the phone when I was too frazzled, immediately calling them and then Jet, the two of us literally racing to get home while Jet ran over to find Annie crouched down next to Mom on the floor, surrounded by glass and blood.

It had been the scariest night of my life.

We'd almost lost her.

Now…I couldn't even bring myself to go see her.

I was mad.

Furious.

Hurt.

Lost.

But I didn't have room for any of that. So much of me was still numb after the loss of my daughter.

It was several minutes before I pulled myself together, letting the anger take hold just to ignore the pain before going to meet my sister.

ANNIE

"Stefano said to park it over there," I instructed, pointing to an empty space off to the side of the building when Izzy pulled up next to me.

She nodded, her features flushed red, and I cursed under my breath, hoping nothing had gone wrong.

"Where's Stef?" Izzy asked, walking over after parking. "Don't we need to give him the keys?"

"No, he grabbed Jet's spare."

"Okay, then, I guess let's go. Sorry I'm late."

I shrugged, climbing into the driver's seat of our truck. "I expected it."

"I know ," Izzy snapped as she yanked open the door to the passenger side.

"God, Izzy." I shot her a look as she crawled in. "Why are you in such a bad mood? You're late to crap all the time. That's all I meant."

Izzy tucked her hair behind her ears, and fastened her seatbelt as she glowered out the window. "Not for work , though."

Work?! Oh, hell no. "You are not going into work today. That was our cover, remember? A lie just so you could get Jet's car without him catching on. I can't pull off this surprise without you."

"I'm not asking you to, but there's no reason I can't actually go in."

"What about the rest of the plan?"

"I'll take a break when I need to make the call. Or I'll just call when I get off. No big deal. Now, come on. I need to get there. "

Yeah, and be an outright mess later. "No." I put my foot down. I didn't even care that it got me the nastiest look yet. My sister was not going to work today. Not if I had anything to say about it. I only tolerated the days she did because she had dance with Leo on the days in between. Damn it. Why is she doing this? Maybe I'd call Leo to see if he'd do a session with Izzy in her garage studio when she got home.

Izzy fumed, shaking her head. "It's not your job, sis. You can't tell me no."

"No," I said again, placing my keys between my legs to make my point. "I thought we'd go see a movie or something. Have some sister time."

"Annie…" Izzy sighed. She sounded so sad. So alone in that moment, and it broke my heart that she wouldn't let me in.

"Please, Izzy," I begged, staring imploringly into the pained eyes of my mirror image. I needed to get through to her. The thought of knowing how she'd look when she came home later if I couldn't killed me just thinking about it.

Izzy's head dropped back against the seat, her eyes closed as she took in a long, deep breath. "I'll call in on one condition."

I instantly perked up. "What? Anything."

"Anything?" Izzy looked at me.

"Anything." I'd promise the next year of my life if I had to.

Izzy pulled her phone from her purse, presumably calling the daycare. "I'm holding you to that," she said as her cell rang against her ear.

I'd somehow missed the threat in those words.

"I hate you. I hate you. I hate you."

"But you look beautiful."

"I hate you," I added one last time for good measure.

"You said anything," Izzy happily replied with a smug grin as she tied the stings at my back.

"I didn't know anything meant dress shopping," I grumbled, refusing to look in the mirror. God, I hated dresses. When did my sister get so devious? This was torture. Pure and simple.

"Anything means anything. I had to get you in a dress for prom some way." Izzy took a step back to look me over, her brows drawing together as she assessed. "Yes, I think this is the one. It's very you."

I scoffed. "No dress is me." Though a wave of relief did wash over me that Izzy had found one she liked so quickly. When I'd gone with her for her homecoming dress, it had taken a whole Saturday with at least thirty dresses. This was only dress number four.

"Well, Jet will like it," Izzy said as she helped me out of the silky material.

"Jet likes me for me. And I do not like dresses."

"Just trust me, sis. Jet will love it." Izzy met my gaze in the mirror, and I was stunned silent for a moment at the glimpse of my twin. The real her. It was strange how those moments emerged, but they were never predictable and always fleeting. "Now, we just need to find you some heels," Izzy said as she hung the electric blue spaghetti strap dress back on its hanger .

I pulled up my shorts and grabbed my t-shirt. "Oh, no. No heels. I'll wear the dress, but I'm going in sandals."

"Annie." Izzy placed her hands on her hips.

"Izzy." We stared each other down until she finally sighed.

"Fine. But can they at least sparkle? I even have a pair that will work so you don't have to shop."

Looking up at the ceiling, I scowled. The things I did for my sister. "Fine."

"Thank God, but now, I still need shoes."

"Izzy," I groaned.

"Hey, I'm holding you to that anything, and I spared you my dress shopping by going with Megan and Emma already."

"Alright. Alright," I conceded, following my sister to pay for the dress. Seriously, the things I did to keep Izzy sane.

It was at least fifteen pairs and an hour later in the shoe department when Izzy finished fastening the strap behind her heel and held her leg out to examine her foot. Her lips pursed. "Hmmm…I don't know. I really love them, but I think the other pair will look better with the dress."

"Just pick one, Izzy." I rolled my eyes, getting up to go peer at one of the display tables behind us for something to do. "You have to call Jet soon, remember?"

"I'm almost done. I promise. Just let me put the other one on so I can compare, and then I'll make a decision."

Uh-huh. That's what you said about the last two pairs of shoes, too. I started pacing, needing to move or something to do. If this whole thing hadn't started over my anniversary present for Jet, I could be looking for a gift while Izzy shopped, but it was covered. Maybe I can get an early start on one for his birthday ?

"Excuse me, miss. Do you need any help?"

I looked up to see a middle-aged woman with a job-obligated smile holding a few boxes of shoes. I started to tell her no thanks, but then I caught sight of the picture on the side of one of the boxes. My eyes lit with the spark of an idea.

"Do you have these in a size eight?" I pointed at the box.

"I'll go check." The woman took off to the back, and I took a seat on the bench beside Izzy, my mind whizzing through the possibilities. Maybe I'd have to do some shopping today after all…

Izzy gasped suddenly, and I looked over to find her staring at her phone.

"Tucker has news."

My eyes widened. "You think it's about—"

"The game? Maybe. He said he'll tell me when I see him."

I glanced at my Fitbit, my stomach flipping with the time. "Izzy…"

"I know." She sighed, swiping the screen of her phone. "I just saw it, too. He's not going to like this call."

TUCKER

"Massacred you again!" Nic cried. "You're terrible at this game."

I tossed my controller down to the floor. "Alright. I'm done. You've whooped my ass enough to last me a month now. "

"Tucker Pierce, I better not have heard you say what I think I did," Helen said, coming out from the garage with a laundry basket tucked against her hip.

I cringed, not realizing she'd been close. "Sorry, Helen. Won't happen again."

"It better not." She warned me with a look before heading down the hall.

Nic smirked as he put the controllers away. "Language, Tucker."

I extended a leg out to kick him against the thigh. "Shut up."

Nic just smirked harder.

Jet came back from the kitchen with a frown on his face, his phone held up to his ear, and a bowl of popcorn in hand. I grabbed the bowl from him, stuffing a handful of the buttery goodness in my mouth while purposely avoiding Jet's gaze. Annie would kill me if I didn't play my part right.

"What's it doing?" Jet asked as he sprawled into an armchair.

"It's making a really weird noise. I'm afraid to drive it." I could faintly hear Izzy's voice through the phone.

"What kind of noise?"

"I don't know. A loud one?"

I had to work not to laugh at Jet's expression.

"Jet? You there?"

"Yeah, I'm here." He released a heavy sigh. "Just leave it there, I guess. My dad and I will have to go look at it later. Do you want Tucker to come pick you up? He's over here."

"No, I'll just call Annie."

"Alright."

"Sorry, Jet. "

"It wasn't your fault. I don't think."

"Okay. Bye." Her voice was soft at the end.

"Bye." Jet hung up and dropped his head back against the armchair.

"What's wrong with the classic?" I teased.

Jet opened an eye to give me a look. "Don't know."

I frowned. Usually, Jet would retaliate at the slight dig at his car, but he'd been in a weird mood when I'd gotten back from practice, even after my news, saying he was worried about Izzy. I just couldn't fill him in that he didn't have to be. Not today, at least. I passed him the bowl of popcorn back, and Jet stuffed some into his mouth.

"You wanna go surfing?" I suggested, bored of being inside, and I was supposed to distract Jet, anyway. The one job the twins had given me. "Corey told me his brother's getting supplies for tonight, and I bet we could meet him down there before the party."

"Sure," Jet said after swallowing, his frown already disappearing. "Do you wanna go?"

Nic looked up. "I don't know how to surf."

"No big. The waves won't be huge right now, and we'll teach you."

Nic frowned. "It's pretty hot out."

Jet smirked. "Wuss."

"This is cool heat around here," I added. "Enjoy it while it lasts. Come on. I've got an extra board."

Nic glanced away for a few seconds, considering. I was hoping he'd say yes. It wasn't the first time we'd extended an invite, but the guy was hard to get to know.

"Come on. Might as well experience life with some of the locals while you're here," I pressed, and Nic finally released a small grin .

"Okay. Why not?"

"Shit. Really?" I sat up, and Jet hopped up from the couch before he could backtrack. He stuffed another handful of the snack into his mouth and clapped Nic on the shoulder.

"Come on. I've got some extra board shorts you can use."